Safavid+Empire

__**Leaders of the Safavid Empire**__
The first leader of the Safavid empire was Esma'il, who's title was Shah, the persian word for king. he had several achievements. one of his most notable achievments was making Shiism the main religoen in the empire. this was a bold act, because most people in the empire were Sunnis.Esma'il stated that he was not afraid because he had the help of God. his primary goal was to convert all Muslims to Shiism. Esma'il died in 1524. In 1558, Abbas became the new Shah. he gave the military modern weapons and gunpowder. Abbas took back the land they had lost in battles, and contributed to the culture and economy of the empire.

__**The Growth Of The Empire**__ The Safavid Empire began in 1501, when the Safavid leader Esma’il conquered Persia. When he conquered Persia, he became shah (king). As shah, he made the beliefs of the Shia, the official religion of the empire. Esma’il dreamed of taking over other Muslim territories and converting them to Shiism. The Ottomans, however, were Sunni, and they defeated the Safavids. In 1588, the best Safavid leader ‘Abbas, became shah. He made the military stronger, and followed the way the Ottomans did things. This is when the Safavid Empire was at its peak.

The Safavid Empire Culture and Economy . There culture was a mix of Persian and Muslim traditions . They would also built mosques mainly in there capitol (Esfahan) . Esfahan was so well built that it was thought of one of the world’s most beautiful places around the 1600s. . Since their culture was important to them it was involved in their economy, so they would buy and transport traditional stocks and fabrics. . Women’s had freedom and liberty compared to other civilizations in their time. . Also they were skilled in blacksmithing. . With all the weapons and goods they made they would sometimes trade it to other people even as far away as Europe to trade everything they made and to buy things they wanted. . All of the trading and selling they did help make the Safavid Empire a major Islamic civilization which last to the late 1770s.